Lockout modules

ABSTRACT

A lockout module comprises a housing having at least one lockout bore therethrough, a spindle disposed in the housing and having a pair of lockout cross bores therethrough, and a lockout pin selectively insertable through the housing lockout bore and one of the spindle lockout cross bores for blocking rotation of the spindle relative to the housing in first or second position. Slotted bolt holes spaced through and around the periphery of the housing are utilized to secure the housing to a mounting bracket and valve actuator. The slotted holes allow the housing sufficient rotational travel such that the housing lockout bore can be rotatably aligned with a selected spindle lockout cross bore before securing the bolts, thereby compensating for under or over travel of a valve in the open or closed position.

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending applicationSer. No. 07/684,656, filed Apr. 12, 1991 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,018).

This invention relates generally to valve locking devices, and moreparticularly to a further embodiment of a lockout module as disclosed inthe aforesaid parent application, for universal application to variousvalve and valve actuator configurations.

Many types of valves are used in industry, such as in chemicalprocessing plants and the like. Actuators are used to operate thesevalves between open and closed positions. In order to attach an actuatorto a valve, an actuator-to-valve mounting kit is typically used as aninterface therebetween. One end of the actuator-to-valve mounting kit isadapted to be connected to the valve, and the other end of theactuator-to-valve mounting kit is adapted to be connected to theactuator.

A valve manufacturing company typically manufactures a large number ofvalves, of various designs and sizes. An actuator manufacturing companywill manufacture a fewer number of actuators, however, since eachcompany supplies a model for use with a number of different valves.These companies also supply various actuator-to-valve mounting kits.

Governmental regulations, such as OSHA regulations, now require manyvalves to have lockout devices for the purpose of positively locking thevalves in a single position for safety, security or other reasons.Therefore, new valves, actuator mounting kits, and actuator assembliesmust include some sort of lockout device. And, existing assemblies mustbe retrofitted with some sort of lockout device to comply with suchregulations.

One solution to the lockout problem is to supply mounting kits equippedwith lockout devices, both for inclusion in new assemblies, and forretrofitting existing assemblies. However, this solution isdisadvantageous in many respects.

With respect to new assemblies, it would be necessary to fabricate eachmounting kit with a specific type of lockout device particularly suitedto the valve and actuator to be associated with the mounting kit. Thisresults in a large number of specific varieties of mounting kits beingrequired, with each variety being of relatively low volume and thusexpensive to manufacture. Furthermore, mounting kits which are presentlyin stock but have no lockout device therein are rendered useless;companies would simply have to write-off this backlog.

With respect to existing assemblies, it would be necessary to replacethe existing mounting kit having no lockout device with one of theabove-mentioned low volume, specifically manufactured mounting kitsincluding the lockout feature. But, this effectively results inscrapping the replaced mounting kits.

It is therefore desirable to provide a universal lockout apparatus,which would be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, preferably involume, and would not render useless existing mounting kits, whether instock or in the field.

It has therefore been one objective of the present invention to providea lockout device which can readily be retrofitted into an existing valveand actuator assembly.

It has been another objective of the present invention to provide auniversal lockout apparatus which accordingly can be manufactured inrelatively high volume, thereby significantly decreasing the cost andexpense of manufacturing the lockout apparatus.

It has been yet another objective of the present invention to provide alockout means which can be used with existing mounting kits and inoriginal manufacture assemblies.

To these ends, one embodiment of the invention described in theco-pending parent application Ser. No. 07/684,656 (now U.S. Pat. No.5,116,018) contemplates a lockout module which interfacesactuator-to-valve mounting kits to actuators used with associatedvalves, and is operable to lock the valve in either open or closedpositions.

That lockout module comprises, generally, a housing, a spindle, andspindle blocking means. The spindle is disposed within the housing andhas one universal end adapted within the housing and has one universalend adapted to be connected to an actuator-to-valve mounting kit andanother universal end adapted to be connected to the actuator. Operationof the actuator turns the module spindle and mounting kit spindle tooperate the valve. The spindle blocking means is operable to selectivelyblock the module spindle and hence the valve in one or the other of thepositions.

In that embodiment, the spindle blocking means includes a lockout pindisposed in a lockout pin bore in the housing, and a lockout tabengagable between the housing and the lockout pin. When the lockout pinis threaded into the lockout pin bore the lockout pin blocks rotation ofthe module spindle by engaging a recess in the spindle. The lockout tabis positioned within a groove in an appendage of the housing. The widthof the groove allows minor adjustments to be made in the longitudinallocation of the lockout pin to allow for manufacturing tolerances and toinsure proper valve position. A padlock is inserted through a hole in alockout wheel fixedly connected to the lockout pin and through a hole inthe lockout tab. When the padlock is locked the lockout pin is preventedfrom being withdrawn from the housing.

In an alternative embodiment disclosed in that earlier application, thespindle blocking means includes at least one lockout pin disposed in alockout pin bore in the housing. The housing also has a pull pin boretherethrough. When the lockout pin is inserted through the lockout pinbore the lockout pin blocks rotation of the module spindle by engaging arecess in the spindle. A pull pin is then inserted through the housingand a pull pin bore in the lockout pin to prevent the lockout pin frombeing withdrawn. The end of the pull pin has a bore therethrough suchthat a padlock may be locked therein to prevent the pull pin from beingwithdrawn from the housing and the lockout pin.

In the alternative embodiment, the housing lockout pin bore is threadedas is the lockout pin so that the lockout pin may be screwed into thehousing. In this embodiment, each spindle recess comprises a chamferedflat. The chamfers in conjunction with the threaded lockout pinfacilitate minor adjustment to allow for manufacturing tolerances. Eachlockout pin has two pull pin cross-bores therethrough to allow 90°incremental adjustment of the lockout pin. Thus the threaded lockout pincan be adjusted a longitudinal distance equal to one-fourth the threadpitch, and locked in each position.

Or, in the alternative embodiment, each spindle recess comprises a borein the spindle. Unthreaded lockout pins are selectively slid in or outto engage and disengage the spindle bores in the open and closedposition.

The lockout module embodiment of the present invention comprises ahousing having at least one lockout bore therethrough, a spindlerotatably disposed in the housing for rotation between first and secondpositions, at least one lockout cross bore through the spindle, and alockout pin selectively insertable through the housing lockout bore andthe spindle lockout cross bore for blocking rotation of the spindlerelative to the housing in one of the first and second positions. Thehousing is rotationally adjustable such that the housing lockout borecan be selectively aligned with the spindle lockout cross bore when thevalve is fully opened or closed, or is in some other predeterminedposition. In order to align or adjust the housing lockout bore with thespindle lockout cross bore, the housing is rotated with respect to thespindle until the bores line up. Such rotation is facilitated byelongated, arcuate-shaped slots comprising bolt holes spaced around theperiphery of the housing. Bolts extend therethrough to secure thehousing to a mounting bracket and valve actuator. When the bolts areloosened, the housing can be rotated with respect to the spindle. Theslots allow the housing sufficient rotational travel such that thehousing lockout bore can be aligned with the spindle lockout cross borethereby compensating for under or over travel of a valve in the open orclosed position.

One advantage of the present invention is that an existing valve andactuator assembly may be field retrofitted with a lockout capability.

Another advantage of the present invention is that a mounting kit whichhas no lockout means does not have to be replaced with a mounting kitwhich does have lockout means. Instead, the lockout module describedherein is used as a functional interface between the existingactuator-to-valve mounting kit bracket and the actuator.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that a lockout devicehousing can be produced at a high volume since it only must interfacebetween a mounting kit bracket and an actuator, and does not have toconform to a specific valve. This lowers the cost of the lockout device.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome more readily apparent from the following detailed description ofa preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with thedrawings herein, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of on e embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the lockout module shown inFIG. 1, but in assembled form and taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the lockout modulespindle locked in one position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the lockout modulespindle locked in another position;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the lockout module shown inFIG. 5, but in assembled form and taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the lockout module of FIG. 5, takenalong lines 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating another alternativeembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the lockout module of FIG. 8,similar in view to FIG. 7, taken along lines 9--9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment ofthis application;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view in partial cross-section of the lockoutmodule of FIG. 10 in combination with a valve, mounting bracket, andvalve actuator; and

FIG. 12 is a plan view in partial cross-section of the lockout module ofFIGS. 10 and 11.

With reference to FIG. 1, a valve lockout assembly 1 comprises, incombination, a valve 5, an actuator-to-valve mounting kit 6, a novellockout module 7, and an actuator 8.

Valve 5 may be one of any number of standard, conventional valves, forexample, and has a rotatable valve stem 10 (dotted lines) extendingupwardly from an upper end thereof for actuating valve 5 between aclosed position and an open position where stem 10 would be rotatedclockwise 90°. Valve 5 is operable to control fluid flow in a fluidcircuit (not shown).

An actuator-to-valve mounting kit 6 comprises a housing 15 within whichresides a spindle 16 (shown in exploded form in FIG. 1 for clarity).This spindle 16 includes a lower end which is keyed with a slot (notshown) for receiving the valve stem 10 of the valve 5. The spindlefurther includes an upper end which has a flat sided stem 17 thereonadapted to be driven by actuator 8. The actuator-to-valve mounting kithousing 15 is adapted to be mounted to the valve 5 as by way of boltholes 18 which are cooperable with similar holes 19 in the upper surfaceof the valve 5 and which may be secured together by way of, for example,threaded fasteners. Thus the lower side of kit 6 is configured tointerface with valve 5. As described, spindle 16 resides within bore 20in actuator-to-valve housing 15.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, and describing now one embodiment of theinvention, the lockout module 7 comprises a lockout module housing 25, aspindle 26, a lockout pin 27 and a lockout tab 28. The lockout housing25 includes a bore 29 for receiving the spindle 26. The housing 25further includes a plurality of bolt holes 30 which preferably mate withthe bolt holes 18 of the actuator-to-valve mounting kit housing 15 andbolt holes (not shown) of the actuator 8. Thus the lockout module 7 isonly adapted to interface with kit 6 and not directly with the valve 5.Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide numerous different modules7. A threaded lockout pin bore 31 passes through the lockout housing 25and intersects the lockout housing spindle bore 29. The lockout pin 27is partially threaded for longitudinal adjustment within the bore 31.

The lockout pin 27 has fixedly secured thereto a lockout wheel 32 whichhas a plurality of circumferential holes 33 therein. The pin 27 furtherincludes a slotted end 34 for adjustment with, for example, a flat bladescrewdriver.

The lockout tab 28 has an elongated hole or slot 35 therein foraccommodating the lockout pin 27. Additionally, the tab 28 includes ahole 36 which is alignable with one of the holes 33 in the lockout wheel32. The tab 28 further includes a straight edge 37, which is cooperablewith three grooves 38, 39 and 40 in an appendage or arm 41 of thehousing 25.

Describing more particularly now the spindle 26 of this embodiment, thespindle 26 has an upper end which includes a flat sided stem 42 which isreceived into a drive aperture (not shown) within a rotatable drivecomponent of actuator 8. The lower end of the spindle 26 has a similaraperture or opening 43 (dotted lines, FIG. 1) for receiving the stem 17of the actuator-to-valve mounting kit in spindle 16.

With reference to FIGS. 2-4, it will be more clearly seen that thespindle 26 includes a pair of recesses 44 and 45 which may be engaged bythe lockout pin 27 rendering the spindle 26 non-rotatable. Recess 44includes a bottom or flat 46 and a sidewall 47. Similarly, recess 45includes a bottom or flat 48 and a sidewall 49.

Describing now the operation of this embodiment of the invention, andreferring now to FIG. 2, to allow the actuator 8 and hence the valve 5to be freely movable between open and closed positions the lockout pin27 is threaded out of the housing 25 until the pin 27 clears the spindle26. The lockout tab 28 is then dropped into the groove 40. In thisposition, one of the holes 33 in the wheel 32 is aligned with the hole36 in the tab 28, and the padlock 50 is inserted through these holes andlocked. With the lockout pin 27 locked in this position, the actuator 8may freely move the valve 5 between its opened and closed positions.Since the tab edge 37 is adjacent the bottom of the groove 40, andcannot be lifted out of groove 40, the lockout pin 27 is fixedlysecured.

Referring now to FIG. 3, to lock the spindle 26 and hence the valve 5 inthe open position, the actuator 8 is moved to the open position, whichrotates the spindle 26 and opens the valve 5. In this position, therecess 44 of the spindle 26 is in a position to be engaged by thelockout pin 27. The padlock 50 is removed from the wheel 32 and tab 28.By virtue of the slot 35 therein, the tab 28 is moved out of the groove40 in the arm or appendage 41 of the housing 25 to allow the pin 27 tobe turned. Pin 27 is then threaded into the bore 31 until contacting thebottom or flat 46 of the recess 44, and the tab 28 is moved into thegroove 39 in the arm or appendage 41 of the housing 25. As the tab 28 isnow adjacent to the wheel 32, the lock 50 may now be inserted throughone of the holes 33 in the wheel 32 and the hole 36 in the tab 28, andlocked. The pin 27, bearing against the edge 47 of recess 44 effectivelylocks the spindle 26 and hence the valve 5 in the open position. To theextent that the width of the groove 39 exceeds the thickness of the tab28, the lockout pin 27 may be adjusted, when unlocked into or out of thebore 31 as needed to completely effect an open position of the spindle26.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the module 7 is shown with the spindle 26 andhence the valve 5 locked in the fully closed position. To lock thespindle 26 in the closed position, the padlock 50 is first removed fromthe wheel 32 and tab 28. Next the lockout pin 27 is threaded out of thebore 31 until the pin 27 clears the spindle 26. The actuator 8 is thenrotated clockwise to the fully closed position, at which time thelockout pin 27 is threaded back into the bore 31 until engaging thebottom or flat 48 of the recess 45. The tab 28 is then dropped into thegroove 38 and the lock 50 is secured through one of the holes 33 of thewheel 32 and the hole 36 of the tab 28, and locked. Minor adjustment ofthe spindle 26 to allow the valve 5 to be fully closed is facilitated tothe extent that the width of the groove 38 exceeds the thickness of thetab 28 permitting longitudinal adjustment of pin 27 when unlocked.

In FIG. 4, the lockout adjustment range of spindle 26, and hence valve5, is shown by center lines 26b and 26c, which it will be appreciatedare about 12° apart. Dashed line 26a illustrates the design closeposition of the valve 5, and hence, the unadjusted locked close positionof spindle 26. Due to possible misalignment from the mounting kit 6, thevalve 5 may be completed closed at any position between lines 26b and26c. The width of groove 38 allows longitudinal adjustment of pin 27enabling the spindle 26 and hence valve 5 to be locked in any positionbetween lines 26b and 26c. This ensures that the valve 5 can be lockedin a completely closed position despite any misalignment from themounting kit 6. It will be observed that a maximum rotational adjustmentof the pin 27 of 60° will align a hole 33 of the lockout wheel 32 withthe hole 36 in the lockout tab 28. This rotational adjustment willeffect a longitudinal motion of the lockout pin 27 equal to 1/6 thepitch of the threads on the lockout pin 27. This provides a sufficientlyaccurate lockout pin position for preventing a significant openingmotion of the spindle 26 and hence the valve 5 when the lockout pin 27is engaged. The module of this embodiment provides up to a 12°tolerance, as evidenced by lines 26b and 26c. Other tolerances such asby wider grooves are operable.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is illustrated another alternativeembodiment. The lockout module 60 of this alternative embodimentcomprises a lockout module housing 61, a spindle 62, a pair of lockoutpins 63 and 64, and a pair of pull pins 65 and 66. The lockout housing60 includes a bore 67 for receiving spindle 62. The housing 60 furtherincludes a plurality of bolt holes 68 which preferably mate with thebolt holes 18 of the actuator-to-valve mounting kit housing 15 and thebolt holes of the actuator 8.

With reference to FIGS. 5-7, it will be noted that a partially threadedand stepped down lockout pin bore 69 passes through the length of thelockout housing 61 and intersects the lockout housing spindle bore 67.Lockout pins 63 and 64 are also threaded for respective longitudinaladjustment within respective threaded ends 70 and 71 of bore 69.

The lockout pins 63 and 64 include knurled knobs 72 and 73, threadedbolt portions 74 and 75, and turned-down pin portions 76 and 77,respectively. The lockout pins 63 and 64 further include a pair ofperpendicularly intersecting cross bores 78 and 79, 80 and 81,respectively, for receiving pull pins 65 and 66, respectively. Thesecross bores are substantially perpendicular to the centerline axes ofthe lockout pins 63 and 64.

Pull pins 65 and 66 have knurled knobs 82 and 83 and pin portions 84 and85, respectively. Each pull pin is disposed in one hole of a pair ofholes 86, 87 and 88, 89 in the housing 61. A hole pair is located oneach end of the lockout housing 61 on opposite sides of the spindle bore67. Bores 86 and 88 locate the lockout pins 63 and 64 in a disengagedposition with respect to the spindle 62. Conversely, pull pin bores 87and 89 locate the lockout pins 63 and 64 in fixed engagement with thespindle 62. The pull pins 65 and 66 have bores 84a and 85a through endsthereof, respectively, such that any suitable lock, such as a padlock,may be locked therethrough subsequent to the pins 65 and 66 beinginserted through the housing pull pin bores, and the lockout pin pullpin bores. Thus, each lockout pin 63 and 64 may be positively secured ineither an engaged relation with respect to the spindle 62 or adisengaged relation with respect to the spindle 62.

Describing more particularly now the spindle 62 of this embodiment, thespindle 62 has an upper end which includes a flat-sided stem 90 which isreceived into a drive aperture (not shown) within a rotatable drivecomponent of actuator 8. The lower end of the spindle 26 has a similaraperture or opening (not shown) for receiving the stem 17 of theactuator-to-valve mounting kit spindle 16.

With reference to FIGS. 6-7, it will more clearly be seen that thespindle 62 includes a pair of recesses, each having a bottom or flat andan adjacent inclined sidewall or chamfer, which are engagable by the pinportions 76 and 77 of the lockout pins 63 and 64, respectively. Therecess 91 is defined by a bottom or flat 92 and an inclined sidewall orchamfer 93. The flat 92 is substantially parallel to the longitudinalcenterline axis of the spindle 62. Sidewall or chamfer 93 is at an angleslightly greater than 90° with respect to the flat 92. The recess 94similarly includes a flat 95 and a chamfer 96 in a like relationship oneto another. The recesses 91 and 94 are in a spaced relationship one toanother of approximately 90° about a longitudinal centerline axis of thespindle 62. Sidewall or chamfer 93 is at an angle slightly greater than90 with respect to the flat 92. The recess 94 similarly includes a flat95 and a chamfer 96 in a like relationship one to another. The recesses91 and 94 are in a spaced relationship one to another of approximately90° about a longitudinal centerline axis of the spindle 62.

Describing now the operation of this embodiment, and referring to FIGS.5-7, when the actuator 8 and hence the valve 5 is rotated completelyclockwise thereby being in a fully closed position (FIG. 6), the lockoutpin 63 is threaded into the end 70 of the lockout pin bore 69 until thedownward tip of the pin portion 76 engages the flat 95 of the recess 94.It will be appreciated that the chamfer 96 of the recess 94 facilitatesminor adjustment of the lockout pin 63 to compensate for manufacturingtolerances to which the valve 5, actuator-to-valve mounting kit 6,lockout module 60 and actuator 8 are manufactured.

As previously mentioned, manufacturing tolerances dictate that aparticular valve 5 may not always be fully closed or fully opened atexactly 0° or 90°. Thus, the adjustable lockout pin 63 as hereinabovedescribed may be turned more or less, as needed, to further advance orslightly retract the pin 63 so that it abuts the spindle 62. Toaccommodate any clockwise overtravel of the valve 5 in the closedposition (FIG. 6), lockout pin 63 need merely be turned and henceslightly advanced toward flat 95; chamfer 96 will allow such clockwiseovertravel. And, to accommodate any clockwise undertravel of the valve 5in the closed position (FIG. 6), lockout pin 63 again need merely beturned and retracted slightly away from flat 95 to allow suchundertravel.

It will also be appreciated that the lockout pin 63 must be rotated atleast 90° to effect incremental longitudinal adjustment of the lockoutpin 63 within the lockout pin bore 69. This is because one of thelockout pin pull pin bores 78 or 79 must be aligned with the housingpull pin bore 87 such that the pull pin 65 may be inserted completelytherethrough. It will be observed that a 90° rotational adjustment ofthe lockout pin 63 will effect a longitudinal motion of the lockout pin63 equal to 1/4 the pitch of the threads on the lockout pin 63. Thisprovides a sufficiently accurate lockout pin position for preventingcounterclockwise motion of the spindle 62 when the lockout pin 63 isengaged.

To use this embodiment to lock an actuator and hence a valve in a fullyopen position, the pull pin 65 is first withdrawn from pull pin bore 87in the housing 61 and hence, from lockout pin 63. Next, the lockout pin63 is turned counterclockwise in order to align one of the pull pinbores 78, 79 with the housing pull pin bore 86. When this alignment isobtained, the pull pin 65 is advanced through the pull pin bore 86 inthe housing 61 and through the lockout pin 63. This effectively locksthe lockout pin 63 in a disengaged or retracted relationship withrespect to the spindle 62.

Next, the actuator 8 is rotated counterclockwise 90° to the fully openedposition, which effectively rotates the valve 5 to a fully openedposition. The other pull pin 66 is withdrawn from the housing, and theother lockout pin 64 is threaded into the end 71 of the bore 69 anduntil contact is made with the flat 92 or chamfer 93 of the recess 91,depending on manufacturing tolerances. Fine adjustment is effected byrotating the lockout pin in 90° increments. When either of the lockoutpin pull pin bores 80, 81 are aligned with the housing pull pin bore 89,the pull pin 66 is inserted therethrough which locks the lockout pininto fixed engagement with the spindle 62 and thereby blocks it fromrotating. With the pull pins in these respective positions, padlocks(not shown) may be locked through the padlock bores 84a, 85a in the endsof the pull pins 65, 66 to secure the spindle 62 and the valve 5 againstmovement.

Describing now another embodiment, and referring to FIGS. 8-9, a spindle101 of a lockout module 100 includes a pair of bores 102 and 103, whichare selectively engaged by lockout pins 104 and 105, respectively. Thesemodified lockout pins 104, 105 include no threaded portion; furthermorethe lockout pin bore 106 within the lockout housing 107 is likewiseunthreaded. In other respects, this embodiment is identical to thealternative embodiment in FIGS. 5-7, with like numbers designating likecomponents.

This alternative embodiment works much the same way as the firstembodiment described, with the exception that the modified lockout pins104, 105 simply slide into and out of the lockout pin bore 106 in thelockout housing 107. These pins 104, 105 cooperate with the orthogonalbores 102 and 103 in the spindle 101, for similarly locking the spindle101 in either a fully opened or fully closed position.

With reference to FIGS. 10-12, there is illustrated a preferredembodiment of the lockout module of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 10, specifically, there is illustrated a lockout module 200 whichincludes a housing 201, a spindle 202, and lockout pin 203. Duringnormal operation, spindle 202 is disposed within housing 201, but isshown in exploded perspective for clarity purposes.

The housing 201 includes a pair of lockout cross bores 210 and 212. Fourarcuate slots on bolt holes 213 extend through the housing 201 formounting the housing 201 to a mounting bracket 252 (FIGS. 11 and 12).The housing 201 includes a pair of arms or flanges 214a and 214b havinga pair of aligned bores 215a and 215b therethrough for storing thelockout pin 203 therein during nonuse.

The lockout pin 203 includes a padlock bore 220 on a forward end thereoffor securing the lockout pin 203 once it has been placed in a selectedposition. On the other end of the lockout pin 203 there is a wire hanger221 which has attached thereto a tether 222 which movably tethers thelockout pin 203 to one of the housing arms 214.

The spindle 202 includes a pair of cross bores 230 and 232 forselectively receiving the lockout pin 203, preferably when the spindleis in either of two predetermined positions, such as corresponding to avalve open or valve closed position. At the lower end of the spindle 202there is a notch 234 for cooperating with a valve stem 255 (FIGS. 11 and12). Flats 236 on the upper end of the spindle 202 cooperate with anactuator spindle 256 (FIG. 11).

With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, the lockout module 200 is illustratedin operative conjunction with a valve 250, a mounting bracket 252 and avalve actuator 254. Valve 250 includes a valve stem 255 which mates withnotch 234 of the lockout spindle 202. Actuator 254 includes a spindle256 coupling by means of flats 236 with the upper end of the lockoutmodule spindle 202. Bolts 260 extend through arcuate slots 213 inlockout housing 201 to secure it to the mounting bracket 252 and valveactuator 254. A padlock 262 is provided for locking the lockout pin 203in the housing 201 and spindle 202.

With reference to FIG. 12, it will be seen that the lockout module 200,and specifically the lockout housing 201 can be rotated in oppositedirections (Arrow A) with respect to the spindle 202 to selectivelyalign one of the lockout housing cross bores 210, 212 with one of thespindle lockout cross bores 230 and 232 when the valve is in its openedor closed position. The slots 213 allow for sufficient rotational travelof the housing 201 to allow for any under or over travel of the valvestem 255 when valve 250 is in the open or closed positions, and insuresthe valve can be locked when in its selected open or closed position.

It will be appreciated that while the lockout module housing 201 andspindle 202 are illustrated as each having a pair of cross borestherethrough, the invention is functional with the housing having asingle lockout bore and the spindle having a pair of lockout crossbores, or, in the preferred embodiment, with the housing having a pairof lockout bores and the spindle having a single lockout cross bore.

It will also be appreciated that additional structure defining thelockout bores could be added to the housing and movably mounted thereonso the adjustment of the lockout position can be obtained withoutrotating the entire housing body.

It will also be appreciated that in this embodiment, there is no needfor chamfering or other machining of a spindle to accommodate valveovertravel or precise positioning. Instead, precise alignment of thelockout is provided by rotational adjustment of the spindle housing.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations andmodifications which can be made to the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention and applicantintends to be bound only by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lockout module comprising:a housing means having at least one lockout bore therethrough, fastener means operably connectable to a housing support for securing said housing means to the support; a spindle rotatably disposed in said housing means for rotation between first and second positions, said spindle having at least one lockout cross bore therethrough, a lockout pin selectively insertable through said housing lockout bore and said spindle lockout cross bore for blocking rotation of said spindle relative to said housing in one of said first and second positions, and means in said housing means for cooperating with said fastener means for accommodating adjustment of said housing means with respect to the support without disconnecting said fastener means from the support for selectively aligning said housing lockout bore with said spindle lockout cross bore when said spindle is in one of said first and second positions.
 2. The lockout module of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively aligning said housing lockout bore with said spindle lockout cross bore comprises a plurality of arcuate through slots spaced in and around a periphery of said housing means.
 3. The lockout module of claim 1 wherein said housing means has two lockout bores.
 4. The lockout module of claim 1 wherein said spindle has two lockout cross bores.
 5. The lockout module of claim 3 wherein said spindle has two lockout cross bores.
 6. Apparatus for locking a fluid controlling valve in a predetermined position, wherein the valve includes a valve stem thereon, said apparatus comprising:a lockout module; a mounting bracket for operably mounting said module on a valve; said lockout module comprising:a housing with at least one lockout bore therethrough, a spindle disposed in said housing and having at least one lockout cross bore therethrough, one end of said spindle being releasably connectable to a valve stem for rotation with the stem to at least one predetermined valve position; a lockout pin selectively insertable through said housing lockout bore and said spindle lockout cross bore for blocking rotation of said spindle relative to said housing and locking said spindle to said housing in at least one position corresponding to the one predetermined valve position, and means for selectively aligning said housing lockout bore with said spindle lockout cross bore when said spindle is in the one position.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said selectively aligning means comprises a plurality of arcuate through slots spaced in and around a periphery of said housing.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said apparatus further includes:an actuator, said spindle having another end being releasably connectable to said actuator for rotation with said actuator; bolt means extending between said actuator and said mounting bracket for securing said bracket, housing and actuator together; said housing including arcuately slotted through bolt holes for receiving said bolt means and accommodating rotational adjustment of said housing when said bolt means are loosened to align said lockout bore of said housing with said lockout cross bore in said spindle.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said housing includes a pair of flanges with aligned bores therein for storing said lockout pin therein during non-use. 